Isar Aerospace has announced the completion of the final tests on its Spectrum rocket, paving the way for its inaugural flight. The company stated that the launch will take place “as soon as possible” following approval and licensing from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority.
Spectrum is a two-stage rocket that is designed to be capable of carrying up to 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit. The rocket will initially be launched from the Andøya Spaceport in Norway, which was officially inaugurated in November 2024.
In a 21 February update, Isar revealed that it had completed a 30-second integrated static fire test of the rocket’s first stage on 14 February, qualifying the stage for Spectrum’s inaugural flight. The company also confirmed that the rocket’s second stage had been qualified for flight following a static fire test in the third quarter of 2023.
“We are almost ready for the test flight,” said Isar CEO Daniel Metzler. “All we need is the license.”
The launch window for Spectrum’s first test flight will be set as part of the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority’s licensing process, marking the final regulatory step before liftoff.
While the inaugural flight will be a significant milestone for Isar, the company has tempered expectations for Spectrum’s debut.
“The flight will be the first integrated test of tens of thousands of components,” explained Isar CTO Josef Fleischmann. “Regardless of how far we get, this first test flight will hopefully generate an enormous amount of data and experience, which we can apply to future missions.”
Alongside its update on preparations for Spectrum’s inaugural flight, Isar revealed that production is already underway on the rockets that will be used for the vehicle’s second and third missions.
